NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Students at a west suburban high school are calling for more mental health support after a second classmate died by suicide this year.
Neuqua Valley High School has lost two students to suicide in the last three weeks.
Several students spoke at the Indian Prairie School District 204 board meeting Monday night, expressing a need for additional mental health resources.
"Having counselors and social workers trained, trained specifically for adolescents would be an incredible asset," said senior Clare Malloy. "These professionals would be just like our academic counselors assigned to students and provide mandatory check-ins with all students."
Other students explained that three counselors for each grade, made up of more than 800 students each, isn't enough.
"I feel that our school does not do enough to address these issues, to combat these extreme stresses on my friends, me and all students at Neuqua," said Lucas Lombana Arias. "We need more funding to go to the mental health programs."
During the public meeting, Superintendent Dr. Adrian Talley noted there are mental health professionals in the buildings, but acknowledged the need for more.
He said it's a national staffing issue.
"One that has been around for several years, as we continue to struggle to find additional psychologists, social workers, and others with the skill sets," Talley said.
Talley added the district met with all three high school principals this week to discuss ways to "augment" what they're already doing in schools to focus on mental health.
